AFOSI Overview and Mission

AFOSI Introduction

• AFOSI (Air Force Office of Special Investigations) was officially established by Chief of Staff Carl Spaatz on January 2, 1948.
• Stuart Symington, the first Secretary of the Air Force, appointed Joseph Carrol (FBI official) as the head of investigations.
• In August 1948, Hoyt Vandenberg, the new Chief of Staff, authorized AFOSI to conduct counterintelligence activities.
• August 1, 1948, is the operational date of AFOSI.

AFOSI Mission and Command Priorities

• Threat Detection: Detecting and countering hostile intelligence services, both offensively and defensively.
• Personal Protection: Providing personal protection to senior Air Force and Space Force leaders.
• Antiterrorism: Supervising antiterrorism programs in high-threat areas.
• Criminal Investigations: Investigating felony-level crimes, economic crimes (fraud, public trust violations related to contracting, pay, environment, and property), and information operations.
• Cyber Threats: Recognizing and responding to emerging cyber threats.
• Technology Protection: Protecting Air Force technology, information, personnel, and facilities.
• Specialized Services: Employing technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts, and forensic advisors.
• Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3): This center, established in 1998, provides media forensics, cyber analytics, research, and development support for law enforcement, counterintelligence, and information assurance. AFOSI is the executive agency for DC3.
• Force Protection Detail Program (FPD): Works with host nations to mitigate terrorist threats, fully integrated within the Department of Defense (DoD) embassies.
• Antiterrorism Specialty Team (AST): A specialized team responding to terrorist threats and attacks globally.

AFOSI Organizational Structure

• Reformed in 1991-92 to realign with Air Force major commands needs under General Dillon.
• Consists of 7 regions (Regions 1-6 and 8) and 1 center (Region 7).
• Subordinate units include field investigations squadrons, detachments, and operating locations.
• Specialized investigative, training, and support units (Office of Special Projects, Office of Procurement Fraud, Force Support Squadron, USAF Special Investigations Academy, and the Investigations, Collections, Operations Nexus Center (ICON)).

AFOSI Lines of Effort

• Exceptional Force: Develop and sustain an exceptional Air Force investigation force emphasizing risk-taking, diverse force, and inclusive command.
• Mission Focus & Readiness: Focus finite resources on what AFOSI can provide, fully equip capabilities.
• Modernization & Innovation: Improving information sharing, procurement capabilities, and cyber abilities (e.g., ORION, cloud transition).
• Partner Engagement: Deepening partner relationships and using force multipliers to improve global strategic engagements.

AFOSI Ethics

• Individual Responsibilities: Supervisors must report ethics violations to AFOSI HQ. All agents are required ethics training within 45 days of assignment.
• Professional Conduct: Collecting facts impartially, maintaining impartiality, protecting the reputation of subjects, witnesses, and victims, and avoiding unnecessary contact.
• Personal Conduct: Using badges and credentials for official use only, coordinating with Public Affairs (PA) before speaking to media, and avoiding any conflicts between off-duty employment and investigative responsibilities.
• Specific Prohibitions: No entrapment, no involvement with sexual misconduct or fraternization, avoiding gossip/rumors about cases or witnesses. No controversial clothing, symbols. Avoidance of personal stake in investigation, avoiding any personal or professional relationships that conflict with investigation.

Investigative Responsibilities & Jurisdiction

• Jurisdiction Sources: Constitution, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, Congress), Manual for Courts-Martial (President), AF mission directive 39, and AF Instructions 71 series.
• Jurisdictional Scope: Investigate individuals subject to the UCMJ (active duty, National Guard, cadets, midshipmen, retirees, prisoners of war), anywhere globally. Exclusive, concurrent, and proprietary jurisdiction considerations are outlined.
• Off Base Investigation: Host nation rules apply, with considerations for the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
• Offenses: Federal and State laws applicable to military personnel acting within their primary military duties. Types of crimes covered mentioned include theft, bribery, and adult sexual assault.
• Special considerations: military members' role (vs. non-military) and location (within or outside the US, bases vs. off-base locations).
• Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA): Allows prosecution of civilians associated with US forces overseas for felony offenses.
• Posse Comitatus Act: Limits the use of military personnel in civilian law enforcement, requiring a primary military purpose/nexus.
• Arrest Authority: OSI agents have arrest authority based on probable cause for military subjects, and civilian subjects based on jurisdiction. Military agents can detain but need a military purpose for the arrest. Civil arrest may be made by civilian agents

Interview Documentation

• Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) & Victim Counsel: Provides support and legal representation to victims, enabling assistance in cases of alleged misconduct. OSI agents provide DD Form 2701 and log the result of any decision on participation in the program with reason for refusal.
• Written Statements AF IMT 1168: Obtaining written statements from suspects, witnesses, or complainants (preferably using AF IMT 1168 form), as well as ensuring oaths are given, and statements are fully initialed and signed.

Arming & Use of Force

• Constitutional Standard: Officer actions must be objectively reasonable.
• AFOSI Arming Policy: Qualified personnel are expected to be armed, with standard issue weapons, magazines, and badge combinations for duty.
• Deadly Force Authorization: Force must be reasonable and justified, and cannot be used solely to prevent escape; warning shots are not permitted when feasible.
• Restrictions: No chokeholds, follow rules of engagement and policies of the AF over any outside agencies.

Article 31 Rights

• Article 31 vs. Miranda Rights: Article 31 applies to military personnel subject to the UCMJ, while Miranda rights apply to all individuals in the US. Articulating the offenses and the rights of the accused is required to elicit a statement.
• When required: Reading Article 31 rights is required when a person subject to the UCMJ is suspected of an offense and is being questioned about that offense. Triggered by questioning from LEO or Commander.
• Exceptions: Spontaneous statements, safety questions are exempt.
• Waivers: Written affirmation of understanding rights, counsel declination, agreement to making a statement.
• Immunity: Transactional and testimonial immunity types are authorized.
• Coercion/Involuntary Confessions: Statements gained through coercion are inadmissible.

Recruited & Non-Recruited Sources

• Recruited Sources: Protected individuals with established relationships, formal or informal.
• Non-Recruited Sources: Individuals providing information without formal protection or relationship.
• Sourcing Benefits: Investigating tool, provides access to information not otherwise attained, improving investigations.
• Source Evaluation: Focus on access, motivation, and control, analyzing target selection, and identifying targets appropriately.
• Documentation: Detailed documentation is critical.

UCMJ & Military Justice

• UCMJ & Military Law: The Constitution provides the authority, UCMJ provides the statutes, and the Manual for Courts-Martial defines procedures.
• Military Justice System Participants: Accusers, convening authorities, participants and the potential dangers of unlawful command influence.
• Legal Services: Judicial Advocate Generals (JAGS) provide legal services.
• Reporting & Commander Options: Anyone can report crimes, and a commander may investigate cases.
• Court-Martial Procedures: Summary, special, and general court-martial processes are differentiated. (including their sentences).
• Article 134 UCMJ Offenses: Offenses under Article 134 UCMJ and cases of applying State and Federal law in court-martials.

Investigative File Types & Planning

• Analysis & Production Files: Evaluating unit productivity and supporting fraud programs.
• Target Management File: Monitoring targets in investigations, in various stages, and in coordination with multiple agencies.
• Information Files: Listing declinations, sexual offenses outside AFOSI jurisdiction, or attempted suicides also maintained.